{"change_dates":[],"dossier":{"amendments":[],"changes":{"2014-11-10T00:09:01":[{"data":[{"body":"EC","commission":[{"Commissioner":"ASHTON Catherine","DG":"External Relations"}],"date":"2010-05-17T00:00:00","docs":[{"celexid":"CELEX:52010PC0234:EN","text":["
PURPOSE: to conclude a Agreement between the EU, Iceland,\n Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Agreement\n between the EU and Norway on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an\n Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the EEC and Iceland concerning\n special provisions applicable to imports into the EU of certain fish and\n fisheries products 2009-2014 and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement\n between the EEC and Norway concerning special provisions applicable to\n imports into the EU of certain fish and fisheries products 2009-2014.
PROPOSED ACT:\n Council Decision.
LEGAL BASE: Articles 175, third paragraph for the agreements on\n the financial contributions to economic and social cohesion and Article 207\n for the amended fisheries protocols in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of\n the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
BACKGROUND: since the entry into force of the Agreement on the\n European Economic Area (EEA) in 1994, the EEA EFTA States (now Iceland,\n Liechtenstein and Norway) have contributed to alleviating economic and social\n disparities in the EEA. These contributions have always been agreed for\n periods of five years.
The most recent five-year-period of financial contributions,\n covering 2004-2009, expired on 30 April 2009. During that period, the overall\n financial contribution from the EEA EFTA States was EUR 1.467 billion,\n allocated partly through a multilateral EEA financial mechanism to the EEA\n Agreement, financed by all three EEA EFTA States, and partly through a\n bilateral Norwegian financial mechanism, financed exclusively by Norway. The\n 2004-2009 financial contributions were negotiated in the context of the 2004\n and 2007 EEA Enlargement Agreements. In that context, two bilateral\n agreements/protocols with Iceland and Norway granting certain concessions\n with regard to market access for fish and fisheries products were also\n negotiated for the same 2004-2009 period, with a revision clause, stipulating\n a deadline coinciding with the expiry of the 2004-2009 financial mechanisms.
Formal negotiations with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on\n their financial contributions for the period 2009-2014 were opened on 26\n September 2008. In parallel to those negotiations, but independently of them,\n consultations and subsequently negotiations were also launched on the basis\n of the revision clause of the two bilateral fish protocols with Iceland and\n Norway.
IMPACT\n ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.
CONTENT: The\n agreements which have been negotiated are as follows:
EEA and\n Norwegian financial mechanism: as far as the EEA\n and Norwegian financial mechanisms are concerned, the result is an overall\n package of EUR 1.8 billion for the period 2009-2014, composed of a 31%\n increase in the EEA financial mechanism and a 22% increase in the Norwegian\n financial mechanism, compared to the period 2004-2009. This outcome reflects\n the negotiating directives agreed by the Council, which requested a\n substantial increase in the funds. Due to its financial crisis, it was agreed\n that Iceland’s contribution to the EEA financial mechanism should not be\n increased in absolute terms.
As an element\n of the final package, the Commission had agreed to make, on the occasion of\n the signature of the agreement on the new EEA financial mechanism, the\n following declaration: “The new Protocol 38b has been established as a\n contribution by the EEA EFTA States to the reduction of economic and social\n disparities in the European Economic Area, and is without prejudice to other negotiations,\n including future EU cohesion negotiations”.
The background\n to this declaration is that while the point of departure for the distribution\n of the funds in the EEA financial mechanism was the “cohesion key”, and in\n order to find a viable compromise, certain transitional adjustments had to be\n made, resulting in the final distribution of the EEA funds.
Furthermore,\n implementation provisions have been agreed. The key element is that the funds\n will be spent by using the same “programme” method as used in the EU\n structural funds.
Among the\n priority areas for the funding are fighting climate change and protecting the\n environment, promoting green technologies and supporting social development\n and civil society.
The result of\n the negotiations on the two bilateral fisheries protocols between the EU\n and Iceland and Norway, respectively, for the period 2009-2014 was\n essentially a renewal of the previous 2004-2009 protocols with unchanged\n concessions for Iceland and a relatively modest increase in concessions for\n Norway, on the basis of which Norway will renew the fish transit arrangement,\n which had also expired on 30 April 2009.
As the\n negotiations suffered unfortunate delays and were not concluded until 18\n December 2009, it was necessary for the smooth functioning of the EEA to\n ensure that the above agreements could enter into force on a provisional\n basis, pending their final conclusion.
BUDGETARY\n IMPLICATIONS: as above.
\nPURPOSE: to\n conclude an Agreement between the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an\n EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Agreement between the EU and Norway on\n a Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Additional Protocol to the\n Agreement between the EEC and Iceland concerning special provisions\n applicable to imports into the EU of certain fish and fisheries products\n 2009-2014 and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the EEC and\n Norway concerning special provisions applicable to imports into the EU\n of certain fish and fisheries products 2009-2014.
IMPACT\n ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.
LEGAL BASIS:\n Article 217 in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the\n Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
CONTENT: this\n proposal for a Decision aims to conclude the following agreements and protocols,\n on behalf of the Union:
For further\n details as regards the content of these agreements and protocols please refer\n to the summary of the document annexed to the procedure dated 20 July 2010.
BUDGETARY\n IMPLICATION: in accordance with the proposed Financial Mechanism, the overall\n envelope is set at EUR 1.8 billion for the period 2009-2014.
\nThe Committee on International\n Trade adopted the report drafted by Maria Eleni KOPPA (S&D, EL)\n recommending the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of\n an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on\n an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Agreement between the European Union\n and Norway on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2009-2014, an Additional\n Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and\n Iceland, concerning special provisions applicable to imports into the\n European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for the period 2009-2014,\n and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic\n Community and Norway, concerning special provisions applicable to imports\n into the European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for the period\n 2009-2014.
\nThe European\n Parliament adopted a legislative resolution in which it gives its consent to\n the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland,\n Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an\n Agreement between the European Union and Norway on a Norwegian Financial\n Mechanism for the period 2009-2014, an Additional Protocol to the Agreement\n between the European Economic Community and Iceland, concerning special provisions\n applicable to imports into the European Union of certain fish and fisheries\n products for the period 2009-2014, and an Additional Protocol to the\n Agreement between the European Economic Community and Norway, concerning\n special provisions applicable to imports into the European Union of certain\n fish and fisheries products for the period 2009-2014.
\nPURPOSE: to conclude a Agreement between the EU,\nIceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism\n2009-2014, as well as two Additional Protocols in the fisheries\nsector with Iceland and Norway.
\nNON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2011/160/EU on\nthe conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland,\nLiechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014,\nan Agreement between the European Union and Norway on a Norwegian\nFinancial Mechanism for the period 2009-2014, an Additional\nProtocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community\nand Iceland, concerning special provisions applicable to imports\ninto the European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for\nthe period 2009-2014, and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement\nbetween the European Economic Community and Norway, concerning\nspecial provisions applicable to imports into the European Union of\ncertain fish and fisheries products for the period\n2009-2014.
\nBACKGROUND: since the entry into force of the\nAgreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1994, the EEA EFTA\nStates (now Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) have contributed to\nalleviating economic and social disparities in the EEA. These\ncontributions have always been agreed for periods of five\nyears.
\nThe most recent five-year-period of financial\ncontributions, covering 2004-2009, expired on 30 April 2009. During\nthat period, the overall financial contribution from the EEA EFTA\nStates was EUR 1.467 billion, allocated partly through a\nmultilateral EEA financial mechanism to the EEA Agreement, financed\nby all three EEA EFTA States, and partly through a bilateral\nNorwegian financial mechanism, financed exclusively by\nNorway.
\nIt is now necessary to provide a new financial\nmechanism for 2009-2014.
\nPursuant to Council Decision 2010/674/EU, the\nfollowing agreements and protocols were signed, on behalf of the\nUnion:
\nIt also concluded two new bilateral Protocols with\nIceland and Norway granting certain concessions with regard to\nmarket access for fish and fisheries products: (a) Additional\nProtocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community\nand the Republic of Iceland and the Annex thereto; (b) Additional\nProtocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community\nand the Kingdom of Norway and the Annex thereto.
\nThe replacement of the existing financial mechanisms\nby new mechanisms, which relate to different time periods,\ndifferent amounts of funds, and different implementing provisions,\nas well as the renewal and extension of the concessions relating to\ncertain fish and fisheries products, taken as a whole, constitute\nan important development of the association with the EEA EFTA\nStates.
\nThis is the purpose of this Decision.
\nCONTENT: by this Decision, the following agreements\nand protocols are hereby approved on behalf of the\nUnion:
\nEEA and Norwegian financial mechanism: as far as the EEA and Norwegian financial mechanisms\nare concerned, the result is an overall package of EUR 1.8\nbillion for the period 2009-2014, composed of a 31% increase in\nthe EEA financial mechanism and a 22% increase in the Norwegian\nfinancial mechanism, compared to the period 2004-2009. This outcome\nreflects the negotiating directives agreed by the Council, which\nrequested a substantial increase in the funds. Due to its financial\ncrisis, it was agreed that Iceland's contribution to the EEA\nfinancial mechanism should not be increased in absolute\nterms.
\nAs part of this new mechanism, a new Protocol\n38b has been established as a contribution by the EEA EFTA\nStates to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the\nEuropean Economic Area, and is without prejudice to other\nnegotiations, including future EU cohesion negotiations.
\nImplementing provisions:\nimplementation provisions have been agreed. The key element is that\nthe funds will be spent by using the same \"programme\" method as\nused in the EU structural funds. Among the priority areas for the\nfunding are:
\nFishing Protocols: the\nresult of the negotiations on the two bilateral fisheries protocols\nbetween the EU and Iceland and Norway, respectively, for the period\n2009-2014 was essentially a renewal of the previous 2004-2009\nprotocols with unchanged concessions for Iceland and a relatively\nmodest increase in concessions for Norway.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE: this Decision shall enter into force\non 7 March 2011. The Protocols and Agreements shall enter into\nforce as soon as all the necessary procedures have been\ncompleted.
\nPURPOSE: to conclude a Agreement between the EU, Iceland,\n Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Agreement\n between the EU and Norway on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an\n Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the EEC and Iceland concerning\n special provisions applicable to imports into the EU of certain fish and\n fisheries products 2009-2014 and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement\n between the EEC and Norway concerning special provisions applicable to\n imports into the EU of certain fish and fisheries products 2009-2014.
PROPOSED ACT:\n Council Decision.
LEGAL BASE: Articles 175, third paragraph for the agreements on\n the financial contributions to economic and social cohesion and Article 207\n for the amended fisheries protocols in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of\n the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
BACKGROUND: since the entry into force of the Agreement on the\n European Economic Area (EEA) in 1994, the EEA EFTA States (now Iceland,\n Liechtenstein and Norway) have contributed to alleviating economic and social\n disparities in the EEA. These contributions have always been agreed for\n periods of five years.
The most recent five-year-period of financial contributions,\n covering 2004-2009, expired on 30 April 2009. During that period, the overall\n financial contribution from the EEA EFTA States was EUR 1.467 billion,\n allocated partly through a multilateral EEA financial mechanism to the EEA\n Agreement, financed by all three EEA EFTA States, and partly through a\n bilateral Norwegian financial mechanism, financed exclusively by Norway. The\n 2004-2009 financial contributions were negotiated in the context of the 2004\n and 2007 EEA Enlargement Agreements. In that context, two bilateral\n agreements/protocols with Iceland and Norway granting certain concessions\n with regard to market access for fish and fisheries products were also\n negotiated for the same 2004-2009 period, with a revision clause, stipulating\n a deadline coinciding with the expiry of the 2004-2009 financial mechanisms.
Formal negotiations with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on\n their financial contributions for the period 2009-2014 were opened on 26\n September 2008. In parallel to those negotiations, but independently of them,\n consultations and subsequently negotiations were also launched on the basis\n of the revision clause of the two bilateral fish protocols with Iceland and\n Norway.
IMPACT\n ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.
CONTENT: The\n agreements which have been negotiated are as follows:
EEA and\n Norwegian financial mechanism: as far as the EEA\n and Norwegian financial mechanisms are concerned, the result is an overall\n package of EUR 1.8 billion for the period 2009-2014, composed of a 31%\n increase in the EEA financial mechanism and a 22% increase in the Norwegian\n financial mechanism, compared to the period 2004-2009. This outcome reflects\n the negotiating directives agreed by the Council, which requested a\n substantial increase in the funds. Due to its financial crisis, it was agreed\n that Iceland’s contribution to the EEA financial mechanism should not be\n increased in absolute terms.
As an element\n of the final package, the Commission had agreed to make, on the occasion of\n the signature of the agreement on the new EEA financial mechanism, the\n following declaration: “The new Protocol 38b has been established as a\n contribution by the EEA EFTA States to the reduction of economic and social\n disparities in the European Economic Area, and is without prejudice to other negotiations,\n including future EU cohesion negotiations”.
The background\n to this declaration is that while the point of departure for the distribution\n of the funds in the EEA financial mechanism was the “cohesion key”, and in\n order to find a viable compromise, certain transitional adjustments had to be\n made, resulting in the final distribution of the EEA funds.
Furthermore,\n implementation provisions have been agreed. The key element is that the funds\n will be spent by using the same “programme” method as used in the EU\n structural funds.
Among the\n priority areas for the funding are fighting climate change and protecting the\n environment, promoting green technologies and supporting social development\n and civil society.
The result of\n the negotiations on the two bilateral fisheries protocols between the EU\n and Iceland and Norway, respectively, for the period 2009-2014 was\n essentially a renewal of the previous 2004-2009 protocols with unchanged\n concessions for Iceland and a relatively modest increase in concessions for\n Norway, on the basis of which Norway will renew the fish transit arrangement,\n which had also expired on 30 April 2009.
As the\n negotiations suffered unfortunate delays and were not concluded until 18\n December 2009, it was necessary for the smooth functioning of the EEA to\n ensure that the above agreements could enter into force on a provisional\n basis, pending their final conclusion.
BUDGETARY\n IMPLICATIONS: as above.
\nPURPOSE: to\n conclude an Agreement between the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an\n EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Agreement between the EU and Norway on\n a Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Additional Protocol to the\n Agreement between the EEC and Iceland concerning special provisions\n applicable to imports into the EU of certain fish and fisheries products\n 2009-2014 and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the EEC and\n Norway concerning special provisions applicable to imports into the EU\n of certain fish and fisheries products 2009-2014.
IMPACT\n ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.
LEGAL BASIS:\n Article 217 in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the\n Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
CONTENT: this\n proposal for a Decision aims to conclude the following agreements and protocols,\n on behalf of the Union:
For further\n details as regards the content of these agreements and protocols please refer\n to the summary of the document annexed to the procedure dated 20 July 2010.
BUDGETARY\n IMPLICATION: in accordance with the proposed Financial Mechanism, the overall\n envelope is set at EUR 1.8 billion for the period 2009-2014.
\nThe Committee on International\n Trade adopted the report drafted by Maria Eleni KOPPA (S&D, EL)\n recommending the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of\n an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on\n an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an Agreement between the European Union\n and Norway on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2009-2014, an Additional\n Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and\n Iceland, concerning special provisions applicable to imports into the\n European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for the period 2009-2014,\n and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic\n Community and Norway, concerning special provisions applicable to imports\n into the European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for the period\n 2009-2014.
\nThe European\n Parliament adopted a legislative resolution in which it gives its consent to\n the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland,\n Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, an\n Agreement between the European Union and Norway on a Norwegian Financial\n Mechanism for the period 2009-2014, an Additional Protocol to the Agreement\n between the European Economic Community and Iceland, concerning special provisions\n applicable to imports into the European Union of certain fish and fisheries\n products for the period 2009-2014, and an Additional Protocol to the\n Agreement between the European Economic Community and Norway, concerning\n special provisions applicable to imports into the European Union of certain\n fish and fisheries products for the period 2009-2014.
\nPURPOSE: to conclude a Agreement between the EU,\nIceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism\n2009-2014, as well as two Additional Protocols in the fisheries\nsector with Iceland and Norway.
\nNON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2011/160/EU on\nthe conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland,\nLiechtenstein and Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014,\nan Agreement between the European Union and Norway on a Norwegian\nFinancial Mechanism for the period 2009-2014, an Additional\nProtocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community\nand Iceland, concerning special provisions applicable to imports\ninto the European Union of certain fish and fisheries products for\nthe period 2009-2014, and an Additional Protocol to the Agreement\nbetween the European Economic Community and Norway, concerning\nspecial provisions applicable to imports into the European Union of\ncertain fish and fisheries products for the period\n2009-2014.
\nBACKGROUND: since the entry into force of the\nAgreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1994, the EEA EFTA\nStates (now Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) have contributed to\nalleviating economic and social disparities in the EEA. These\ncontributions have always been agreed for periods of five\nyears.
\nThe most recent five-year-period of financial\ncontributions, covering 2004-2009, expired on 30 April 2009. During\nthat period, the overall financial contribution from the EEA EFTA\nStates was EUR 1.467 billion, allocated partly through a\nmultilateral EEA financial mechanism to the EEA Agreement, financed\nby all three EEA EFTA States, and partly through a bilateral\nNorwegian financial mechanism, financed exclusively by\nNorway.
\nIt is now necessary to provide a new financial\nmechanism for 2009-2014.
\nPursuant to Council Decision 2010/674/EU, the\nfollowing agreements and protocols were signed, on behalf of the\nUnion:
\nIt also concluded two new bilateral Protocols with\nIceland and Norway granting certain concessions with regard to\nmarket access for fish and fisheries products: (a) Additional\nProtocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community\nand the Republic of Iceland and the Annex thereto; (b) Additional\nProtocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community\nand the Kingdom of Norway and the Annex thereto.
\nThe replacement of the existing financial mechanisms\nby new mechanisms, which relate to different time periods,\ndifferent amounts of funds, and different implementing provisions,\nas well as the renewal and extension of the concessions relating to\ncertain fish and fisheries products, taken as a whole, constitute\nan important development of the association with the EEA EFTA\nStates.
\nThis is the purpose of this Decision.
\nCONTENT: by this Decision, the following agreements\nand protocols are hereby approved on behalf of the\nUnion:
\nEEA and Norwegian financial mechanism: as far as the EEA and Norwegian financial mechanisms\nare concerned, the result is an overall package of EUR 1.8\nbillion for the period 2009-2014, composed of a 31% increase in\nthe EEA financial mechanism and a 22% increase in the Norwegian\nfinancial mechanism, compared to the period 2004-2009. This outcome\nreflects the negotiating directives agreed by the Council, which\nrequested a substantial increase in the funds. Due to its financial\ncrisis, it was agreed that Iceland's contribution to the EEA\nfinancial mechanism should not be increased in absolute\nterms.
\nAs part of this new mechanism, a new Protocol\n38b has been established as a contribution by the EEA EFTA\nStates to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the\nEuropean Economic Area, and is without prejudice to other\nnegotiations, including future EU cohesion negotiations.
\nImplementing provisions:\nimplementation provisions have been agreed. The key element is that\nthe funds will be spent by using the same \"programme\" method as\nused in the EU structural funds. Among the priority areas for the\nfunding are:
\nFishing Protocols: the\nresult of the negotiations on the two bilateral fisheries protocols\nbetween the EU and Iceland and Norway, respectively, for the period\n2009-2014 was essentially a renewal of the previous 2004-2009\nprotocols with unchanged concessions for Iceland and a relatively\nmodest increase in concessions for Norway.
\nENTRY INTO FORCE: this Decision shall enter into force\non 7 March 2011. The Protocols and Agreements shall enter into\nforce as soon as all the necessary procedures have been\ncompleted.
\n